Swindon Council Spends £1.8m per year on Consultants

The Swindon Labour Group has obtained information that shows that Swindon Borough Council has spent £1.8m on external consultants between 27th September 2011 and 26th September 2012.

The Swindon Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, has called the money spent on consultants as an “insult” to all Council staff who have lost or will be losing their jobs as a result of Council spending cuts. 158 different consultants have been used by the Council over the last year.

The Swindon Labour Group has obtained information that shows that Swindon Borough Council has spent £1.8m on external consultants between 27th September 2011 and 26th September 2012.

The Swindon Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, has called the money spent on consultants as an “insult” to all Council staff who have lost or will be losing their jobs as a result of Council spending cuts. 158 different consultants have been used by the Council over the last year.

The Labour Group Leader, Jim Grant, said:

“Bearing in mind the administration are making people redundant this year due to spending cuts, I am shocked to find they have spent £1.8m on consultants over the last year. Frankly I think it’s a complete insult to the hardworking staff who have lost their jobs.

By using this £1.8m to retain the staff we’ve got, at least 50 Council Officers’ jobs could have been saved this year. These members of staff could have been used to fix Swindon’s potholes, tidy up Swindon’s streets and look after our elderly.

I believe Swindon should follow the lead of the Labour-controlled Slough Council. They have almost prevented any compulsory redundancies of staff and froze the Council-tax, through taking measures like significantly cutting back on consultants and senior management.”

Cllr Jim Grant
Swindon Labour Group Leader